Flexen Pass

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Flexen Pass

Flexenpass with Flexen-Häusl
Elevation 1773 m.
Location Flag of Austria Austria
Range Alps
Coordinates 47°9′N 10°9′ECoordinates: 47°9′N 10°9′E

Flexen Pass (el. 1773 m.) is a high mountain pass in the Austrian Alps in the Bundesland of Vorarlberg.

It connects the upper Lech River valley between Warth, Lech, und Zürs with the Klostertal near Stuben.

The pass road was built in 1940 and leads to the road over the Arlberg pass. It became a necessity when the Arlberg railroad was opened in 1884. Before that, traffic mostly went over the Tannberg by way of Oberstdorf.

The first stretch of road was opened in October of 1897 up to the pass. At first, the road was shielded from the danger of avalanche by protective covers, but eventually a tunnel was built, and then a bridge over the Hölltobel. The road was only 3 meters wide. In 1909 the road was finished into the Lech Valley in Tyrol. Since 1936 the pass has been open in winter. Since 1948, funds from the Marshall Plan have been utilized to improve the road and make it safer from avalanches.

In 2000, plans were unveiled for a tunnel from Stuben to Zürs. However, the plans were tabled for lack of funds.

[edit] References

  • This article is based on a translation of an article from the German Wikipedia.
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